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LA Sol Still Unstoppable In 2-1 Win Over Saint Louis Athletica
The unstoppable Los Angeles Sol kept a fierce Saint Louis Athletica at bay for most of the game. Saint Louis did tally a goal, but it wasn’t enough as LA earned its ninth win by a 2-1 margin.
Jun 25, 2009 3:58:10 AM
The Los Angeles Sol earned their ninth win of the season with a 2-1 defeat of Saint Louis Athletica Wednesday night. Second half goals from Han Duan and Marta gave Los Angeles a comfortable lead. A late goal from Athletica substitute Kerri Hanks closed the gap, but the Sol held on to earn all three points.
The Sol’s win further solidifies their position at the top of the table with 31 points, a commanding 13-point lead over second-place Boston. For Athletica, the loss keeps them in the fourth spot with 14 points.
Coming into the game, Los Angeles was on an incredible eight-game unbeaten streak. Five of those were wins, and they only conceded two goals in the last eight games. Saint Louis was coming off a loss to the Washington Freedom, though they had won the two previous games.
First Half
The first 45 minutes yielded plenty of attacking soccer, with both teams creating chances.
Marta, always a goal scoring threat for Los Angeles, registered the first shot of the match almost 10 minutes in. She fired on goal from the right, just outside the eighteen-yard box. One minute later, Athletica midfielder Lori Chalupny hit a shot on target at the other end. Neither chance resulted in a goal.
In the 15th minute, Los Angeles attacked again, with Sol midfielder Shannon Boxx getting off a shot from approximately twenty yards out. Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo comfortably made the save.
Athletica had an opportunity in the 21st minute, when forward Christie Welsh fired on goal from outside the penalty box. Her effort was deflected out for a corner.
L.A.’s Boxx tested Solo again in the 23rd minute, but could not get past her.
Chalupny shot on goal in the 29th, while Eniola Aluko attempted a shot from the left outside the penalty box in the 34th minute. Neither one could beat Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.
The first half ended with the teams in a 0-0 deadlock.
Second Half
Five minutes into the second half, Sol coach Abner Rogers made a tactical change, bringing on forward Han Duan in place of defender Kari Sanchez. The reward came immediately.
Just seconds after stepping onto the field, Duan notched a goal with a superb solo effort to put L.A. up 1-0. She shot from the right, inside the 18-yard box, straight into the right corner of the net. It was the Chinese international’s second goal of the season.
Los Angeles doubled its advantage in the 73rd minute. Aya Miyama sent a cross toward the Athletica goal. Second-half substitute Aly Wagner received the ball and found Marta in the 18-yard box. Marta duly buried the ball in the right corner of the net. It was the Brazilian star’s sixth goal this season.
Saint Louis got back in the game when substitute Kerri Hanks fired past LeBlanc in the 81st minute. Hanks had been on the field a matter of minutes when teammate Aluko found her outside the penalty box. Hanks sent the ball to the right corner and tallied her first goal of the season.
As the final minutes ticked away, both teams managed on-target shots, but neither could finish their chances. The match ended with the Sol holding off Athletica for a 2-1 win.
Los Angeles likely lament giving up the clean sheet, but should be very happy with the road victory. LeBlanc proved invaluable to the win, facing 25 total shots, and making a remarkable eight saves. Athletica outshot the Sol, 25-12.
“I believe in the second half we created so many chances. It is something in a match to have twelve corner kicks and we missed a goal almost inside the goal. We worked on a lot of things during the week and the goals didn’t happen for us,” said Athletica head coach Jorge Barcellos. “Today though, we proved we could play with Los Angeles. They had two chances in the second half and scored on both chances. Now we need to prepare to go to New Jersey.”
While Saint Louis may rue missed chances, the Sol was relieved to have finished theirs.
“We made a few changes to start the second half,” said Sol head coach Abner Rogers. “Duan came in off the bench and scored a world class goal. We only had two good chances tonight and we got goals from both.”
Los Angeles Sol’s next game will be at home against last-place Chicago Red Stars (2-5-5) on June 27th. Saint Louis goes on the road and face 5th place Sky Blue FC (3-5-3) on June 28th.
Jennifer Dawson, Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’ soccer page.
The Sol’s win further solidifies their position at the top of the table with 31 points, a commanding 13-point lead over second-place Boston. For Athletica, the loss keeps them in the fourth spot with 14 points.
Coming into the game, Los Angeles was on an incredible eight-game unbeaten streak. Five of those were wins, and they only conceded two goals in the last eight games. Saint Louis was coming off a loss to the Washington Freedom, though they had won the two previous games.
First Half
The first 45 minutes yielded plenty of attacking soccer, with both teams creating chances.
Marta, always a goal scoring threat for Los Angeles, registered the first shot of the match almost 10 minutes in. She fired on goal from the right, just outside the eighteen-yard box. One minute later, Athletica midfielder Lori Chalupny hit a shot on target at the other end. Neither chance resulted in a goal.
In the 15th minute, Los Angeles attacked again, with Sol midfielder Shannon Boxx getting off a shot from approximately twenty yards out. Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo comfortably made the save.
Athletica had an opportunity in the 21st minute, when forward Christie Welsh fired on goal from outside the penalty box. Her effort was deflected out for a corner.
L.A.’s Boxx tested Solo again in the 23rd minute, but could not get past her.
Chalupny shot on goal in the 29th, while Eniola Aluko attempted a shot from the left outside the penalty box in the 34th minute. Neither one could beat Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.
The first half ended with the teams in a 0-0 deadlock.
Second Half
Five minutes into the second half, Sol coach Abner Rogers made a tactical change, bringing on forward Han Duan in place of defender Kari Sanchez. The reward came immediately.
Just seconds after stepping onto the field, Duan notched a goal with a superb solo effort to put L.A. up 1-0. She shot from the right, inside the 18-yard box, straight into the right corner of the net. It was the Chinese international’s second goal of the season.
Los Angeles doubled its advantage in the 73rd minute. Aya Miyama sent a cross toward the Athletica goal. Second-half substitute Aly Wagner received the ball and found Marta in the 18-yard box. Marta duly buried the ball in the right corner of the net. It was the Brazilian star’s sixth goal this season.
Saint Louis got back in the game when substitute Kerri Hanks fired past LeBlanc in the 81st minute. Hanks had been on the field a matter of minutes when teammate Aluko found her outside the penalty box. Hanks sent the ball to the right corner and tallied her first goal of the season.
As the final minutes ticked away, both teams managed on-target shots, but neither could finish their chances. The match ended with the Sol holding off Athletica for a 2-1 win.
Los Angeles likely lament giving up the clean sheet, but should be very happy with the road victory. LeBlanc proved invaluable to the win, facing 25 total shots, and making a remarkable eight saves. Athletica outshot the Sol, 25-12.
“I believe in the second half we created so many chances. It is something in a match to have twelve corner kicks and we missed a goal almost inside the goal. We worked on a lot of things during the week and the goals didn’t happen for us,” said Athletica head coach Jorge Barcellos. “Today though, we proved we could play with Los Angeles. They had two chances in the second half and scored on both chances. Now we need to prepare to go to New Jersey.”
While Saint Louis may rue missed chances, the Sol was relieved to have finished theirs.
“We made a few changes to start the second half,” said Sol head coach Abner Rogers. “Duan came in off the bench and scored a world class goal. We only had two good chances tonight and we got goals from both.”
Los Angeles Sol’s next game will be at home against last-place Chicago Red Stars (2-5-5) on June 27th. Saint Louis goes on the road and face 5th place Sky Blue FC (3-5-3) on June 28th.
Jennifer Dawson, Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’ soccer page.
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